McDonnell, Michael
October 19, 2010Scion of Erris business for 75 years
When Michael McDonnell of Barrack Street, Belmullet, died in mid-summer 2010, in his 95th year, a link with the business life of the Erris Peninsula that dated back almost 75 years was broken.
Michael had been much-loved and respected figure in the area and, despite having reached a venerable age, news of his passing caused much sadness in Belmullet and far beyond.
He was born at home in Kinard, Crossmolina, on August 28, 1917, the second youngest of a family of eight children-six boys and two girls- born to Francis and Ellen McDonnell. He was the last surviving member of the family.
Michael attended Richmond School with his siblings and had a very happy time there. He remained on to complete 7th class which was regarded as a very high standard of education at the time.
He worked on the family farm and at Castlehill Post Office for a time but decided that the farming life was not for him. He was delighted when he got the opportunity to join the staff of McIntyres' Stores, Belmullet as a retail assistant and when his apprenticeship was completed he was offered a permanent position on the staff. Thus on July 12, 1933 Michael's business career in Bellmullet/Erris commenced and was destined to last for almost three quarters of a century.
Michael quickly discovered that several of the staff at McIntyres were from his native Crossmolina including the women who was later to become his wife, Elizabeth Lindsay of Mullenmore, Crossmolina.
As Michael settled into his job he, like many of his friends of the time, became members of the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS) in St Brendan's Hall. There they honed their skills at billiards, snooker, cards and debating the issues of the day. He had a great interest in all sports and became quite an accomplished boxer. Many people in Belmullet remember Michael as a boxer who could not be beaten in his prime.
But the sport he loved best and gave most of his time to was Gaelic football. He played on the Belmullet junior team and by mid-1934 had graduated to the senior team, gaining the kind of experience over the following two years that saw him called up for Mayo junior team trials in 1936, the year Belmullet senior team won the county title. This was the pinnacle of his dreams but before very long his dreams were shattered when he developed a very serious form of sciatica. A six week treatment course was to follow by four and a half years of medical supervision which resulted in a cure but, alas, the termination of his footballing career.
To compensate for the lack of football Michael took up golf and, as with everything he did, became quite an accomplished player. He especially enjoyed inter-club competitions. He also developed an interest in fishing, a pastime that was to continue for the rest of his life.
In January 1942 Michael and his bride-to-be Elizabeth Lindsay decided to purchase a shop - drapery and pub with residence attached - which had come on the market. They were married in February, 1942 and, after a short honeymoon in Dublin, returned to Belmullet to run their business which opened in March 1942. Liz ran the business during the day and Michael helped out after his day's work at McIntyres. Despite challenging economic times their business acumen was such that their customer base expanded year on year. Gustie, their first child, was born in 1943 and their daughter Mary was born two years later. In the late fifties, with savings garnered over the years, they renovated their premises which resulted in an immediate improvement in trade. 1996 was the worst year of their lives, however, when they lost their beloved son Gustie in a drowning accident at the age of 23. Their pain of loss remained but was eased somewhat in subsequent years when, following the marriage of their daughter Mary to paddy Conroy, their three grandchildren were born, bringing great joy to their lives.
In 1971 when McIntyres stores closed Michael decided to purchase the company's undertaking business he had given 38 years service to McIntyres. In April 1971 Mcdonnells Undertakers had their first funeral and the business has been on an upward curve ever since. In 1995 Michael's wife Liz passed away and five years later, following the dawn of the new millennium, he began to ease down on his business interests.
He will be remembered as a man of great integrity in business, a man who knew the value of a smile and a warm hand-shake for visitors, a great community man who was generous to a fault in support of local charities. He often stated that he saw Erris at its worst in the poverty-stricken days of the 30's, 40's and 50's and that he was grateful to God to have lived to see it at its best before he died.
Michael will be very sadly missed by his daughter Mary Conroy, son-in-law Paddy Conroy, grandchildren Sean, Padraic and Eilish Conroy, granddaughter-in-law Maria, great-grandchildren Maria, Patrick and Laura, sister-in-law Veronica McDonnell nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and many friends.
His removal took place from the funeral home to Bellmullet church where the main celebrant of his celebrant of his funeral mass was Fr Francis Judge, PP.
In the mass homily Fr Judge said Michael McDonnell personified the prophetic words of scripture "The time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race ; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of rightcousness awaits me, which the lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me,but to all who have longed for his appearance."
Fr Judge said Micahel was always a joy to meet and he himself would always have fond memories of him. He had a natural charism for working with people, always sensitive in his approach. He was buoyant and encouraging, direct and straight, a no-nonsense kind of man but one who showed great warmth and interest in everything he did.
"But my abiding memory of Michael McDonnell will always be his faith in God and the Mass. His love of life was best reflected in his desire to serve God above all things and to love his neighbour as himself. Prayer, too, was a central part of his life and hail, rain or snow, Michael visited this church twice daily for Mass, prayer and meditation. He walked through life with the humility of man who walked in the grace of God. It was an attitude of being that was based on his faith in Christ, a faith we share with him that promises us eternal life, eternal love and eternal peace. Michael had heard the words "well done, thou good and faithful servant" and he is now reunited with his beloved Liz and his son Gustie".
Michael, who was laid to rest in Glencastle Cemetery, was always thankful to the lord for his long and reasonably healthy life. He stated many times that he would not fear when the lord would call him. May he now rest eternally in the presence of the lord where contentment replaces doubt and where pain is replaced by eternal happiness and peace.
"To the world he was just a part, but to us he was all the world."
"Leaba I measc na naomh go raibh aige". Tweet
